How long does an eviction take in District of Columbia?
For unpaid rent, expect about 16.5 weeks from the first notice to the lockout, and anywhere from 12.5 to 26.5 weeks if the tenant fights it or the court is busy.
Not legal advice. Estimates from public sources, checked Oct 17, 2026. Laws vary by county and city; talk to a local attorney before you act.
What would a rental in District of Columbia actually earn?
We'll prefill District of Columbia's numbers and include the eviction cost from this page.
- Median rent $1,931/mo
- Property tax 0.63%
- Insurance $365/yr
- Vacancy 4.7%–6.7%
The District of Columbia eviction timeline
Each step comes from District of Columbia's rules, with the source linked. The typical case adds up to about 16.5 weeks; a contested hearing adds about 3 more. Timeline model.
- 1
Notice to pay or leave
30 days30-day written notice of intent to file; can't file unless at least $600 is owed (D.C. Code § 42-3505.01)
- 2
File and get a judgment
35–90 days · typical 50Initial hearing is scheduled at least 35 days after filing
- 3
Judgment to lockout
23–45 daysWait 48 hours after judgment to file the writ; tenant must get at least 21 days' notice of the eviction date
- 4
If the tenant appeals
30-day window30 days to appeal to the D.C. Court of Appeals; a stay requires a motion and may require a bond
Can the tenant pay and stay? Can pay in full during the notice period. official source Source ↗
Evicting in Washington, DC? City rules add to the state rules. Washington, DC eviction timeline, fees and protections →
What an eviction costs in District of Columbia
Court fees come from the fee schedules we found, and each one says where it applies. Fees we couldn't verify are labeled Unverified and use the national default range. The calculator above adds them to your lost rent.
Court filing fee
Statewide$15Landlord and Tenant complaint filing fee $15
Serving the tenant
Unverified · national default$30–$77No official amount verified for District of Columbia yet, so the calculator uses the national default range.
Sheriff or marshal lockout
Statewide$213Writ of restitution fee $213
Lawyer, uncontested case
National estimate$500–$1,500Flat fees commonly charged when the tenant doesn't fight it. Not specific to this state; big-city rates run higher.
Lawyer, contested case
National estimate$2,000–$5,000+When the tenant contests the case. Not specific to this state.
Median gross rent
Census ACS 2024, 1-year$1,931/moDistrict of Columbia median gross rent, ±$43. The calculator starts here; change it to your rent.
Statewide rules that can slow things down
Statewide rent control: Yes
Rent stabilization
Statewide just-cause rules: Yes
Evictions only for listed reasons (D.C. Code § 42-3505.01)
Right to counsel for tenants: No
None statewide found in the sources we checked
Seasonal or weather limits: Yes
No evictions in rain, below 32°F, or above 95°F forecasts
Required mediation or pre-filing program: No
None statewide found in the sources we checked
District of Columbia scores 23 out of 100
Faster timelines, fewer chances to pay-and-stay and fewer statewide tenant protections score higher.
District of Columbia eviction FAQ
How long does an eviction take in District of Columbia?
A nonpayment eviction in District of Columbia typically takes about 16.5 weeks from notice to lockout, with a range of roughly 12.5 to 26.5 weeks. Contested cases, court backlogs and appeals can take longer. This is an LandlordCost estimate built from the state's notice period and court deadlines, last checked Oct 17, 2026.
How much notice does a landlord have to give for unpaid rent in District of Columbia?
30-day written notice of intent to file; can't file unless at least $600 is owed (D.C. Code § 42-3505.01).
Can a tenant stop an eviction in District of Columbia by paying the rent?
Can pay in full during the notice period.
How much does it cost to file an eviction in District of Columbia?
The court filing fee is $15 statewide. Service and lockout fees are extra. Lawyer fees commonly run about $500-$1,500 for an uncontested case (a national estimate).
How much does it cost to evict a tenant in District of Columbia?
A typical uncontested nonpayment eviction in District of Columbia costs a landlord roughly $8,100 to $9,200: about 16.5 weeks of lost rent at the median rent of $1,931/month (about $7,400), court and service fees of about $258-$305 (some are national defaults because we could not verify them), and lawyer fees of about $500-$1,500 (a national estimate). A contested case running about 26.5 weeks can pass $14,100. These are LandlordCost estimates (Census ACS 2024 rent); they leave out rent owed before the notice, turnover and re-rent time.
Is District of Columbia landlord-friendly for evictions?
District of Columbia scores 23 out of 100 on the LandlordCost landlord-friendliness score (timeline 0/50, right to cure 14/20, statewide tenant protections 9/30). The formula is on our methodology page.
Sources and last-checked dates
Not yet verified for District of Columbia: service fee. Fields we couldn't source are labeled unverified, never guessed. Download the data: states.json · states.csv.
- Notice periodofficial sourcecode.dccouncil.gov ↗
- Court deadlinesofficial sourcedccourts.gov ↗
- Judgment to lockoutofficial sourcecode.dccouncil.gov ↗
- Appealofficial sourcedccourts.gov ↗
- Filing feeofficial sourcedccourts.gov ↗
- Service feeunverifiednone found
- Lockout feeofficial sourcedccourts.gov ↗
- Right to cureofficial sourcecode.dccouncil.gov ↗
- Rent controlsecondary sourcenaahq.org ↗
- Just causeofficial sourcecode.dccouncil.gov ↗
- Seasonalofficial sourcecode.dccouncil.gov ↗
- Median rentofficial sourcewww2.census.gov ↗
Get an email if District of Columbia's rules change
One short email when notice periods, fees or tenant protections change. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.